Can You Identify All of These Items Found in a Professional Kitchen?

About This Quiz

Are you prepped and ready? Here is a commercial-grade quiz to put your knowledge of professional kitchen equipment to the ultimate test!

Professional kitchens are outfitted with high-quality and durable versions of many of the same items which could probably be found in a regular home kitchen. They are built to withstand constant use and all the banging, scrubbing and high temperatures they get exposed to.

From high-performance stoves to a range of refrigeration units and specialized cooking equipment - each item in the kitchen has its own job to do. Together, they assist chefs to consistently churn out top-quality dishes. Take that vacuum cooking technique, for example. Do you know the name of the machine associated with it? You don't have to be a "sous" chef to figure that one out. If you know what we're hinting at, keep it "under" wraps and get started on the quiz!

Of course, there is also a variety of pots, pans and other types of cookware. Can you tell them apart? Do you know which one is used for frying and which for making sauces? We've got several of them in the quiz waiting for you. Will you be able to name each one or will your goose be well and truly cooked? It's time to find out!

billnoll/E+/Getty Images

Can you identify the cutting tool shown here?

chef’s knife

saucepan

rolling pin

commercial ice machine

No one chef’s knife is going to be ideal for every cook or for every type of food preparation. Some are better for thin slicing of soft foods while others work best for chopping through hard vegetables and even bones.

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TReviewspy via youtube

Do you know what these specialized scissors are called?

gas range

heat lamp

kitchen shears

scrub sponges

Kitchen shears get used for a range of jobs including opening packages of food or new kitchen gadgets, and cutting parchment paper. They can also be used on raw meat, such as when deboning poultry. This is why a good pair of a kitchen shears should come apart at the hinge, so that it can be thoroughly cleaned after use.

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Yevgen Romanenko/Moment/Getty Images

Which pot, named for a French style of cooking, is shown here?

deep fryer

whisk

trivet

sauté pan

Sautéing involves quickly frying in a small amount of hot fat while tossing or flipping the food. A sauté pan is specially designed for this with straight, shallow sides; a wide, flat base; and a long handle.

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MichaelSvoboda/E+/Getty Images

What is the name of the mixing and chopping appliance shown here?

prep table

sous vide machine

blender

food scale

One often overlooked factor when selecting a commercial grade blender is the noise level at which it operates. Commercial blenders are powerful, and some tend to be noisy as a result. All that noise coming from the kitchen can be off-putting, however, to some diners.

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Emilija Manevska/Moment/Getty Images

Can you identify the chopping surface shown here?

mixing bowls

cutting board

meat thermometer

baking sheet

Cutting boards which are too hard (for example, metal ones) can cause your knife to dull easily. It is best to buy one made of either plastic or wood and of those two, wood is often the better option. Both plastic and wood cutting boards are gentle on knives, but wood boards are less prone to bacterial growth.

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pbombaert/Moment/Getty Images

What is the name of this bowl-shaped strainer?

colander

measuring cups

stockpot

walk in freezer

Most home kitchens can get by with just one mid-sized colander. A professional kitchen, however, will likely have a large one which works best with large pots and a few smaller ones with different-sized holes.

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Terryfic3D/E+/Getty Images

Do you know what this implement for flattening dough is called?

rolling pin

chest freezer

grill pan

cooling rack

Wood is the traditional material used to make rolling pins, but other material such as metal, glass and marble are also available. Metal rolling pins, such as those made of stainless steel, warm up quickly (in part, by absorbing heat from your hands) and this can affect the dough. Rolling pins made of metal may need to be chilled before use.

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Taste of life/Moment/Getty Images

What other name is given to the frying pan shown here?

rubber floor mat

skillet

fire extinguisher

immersion blender

A skillet is very much like a sauté pan and it is not uncommon for persons to confuse one with the other. The major difference between them is that sides of the skillet are sloped outward, while the sauté pan has straight sides. Also, many sauté pans have a small handle opposite the longer one for added maneuverability while sautéing.

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Arctic Industries via youtube

Do you know the name of this refrigeration unit?

baking sheet

bread knife

trivet

walk-in freezer

Walk-in freezers offer the convenience of high-volume cold storage but there are some precautions kitchen staff must take when using them. These include cleaning up spills as soon as they happen to avoid slipping. It is also important to clear away built-up ice and frost as these could melt to form puddles and lead to slipping.

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Consumer Reports via youtube

Can you name the heat source pictured here?

stockpot

gas range

commercial ice machine

splatter guard

Compared to other types of stoves, many chefs find that the open flame of a gas range makes it easier to judge, adjust and control the amount of heat being supplied to a pot. Furthermore, gas ranges are suitable for use with a wide variety of cookware – in terms of size, shape and material.

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pink_cotton_candy/E+/Getty Images

Which set of useful containers is shown in this image?

mixing bowls

immersion blender

food processor

corkscrew

Metal mixing bowls are the preferred choice in professional kitchens. They have the advantage of being lightweight, durable, stovetop-friendly and relatively cheap. Also, metal bowls won’t smash into a million (potentially dangerous) pieces if they accidentally fall to the floor.

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pbombaert/Moment/Getty Images

Which handy mixing tool is shown in this photo?

scrub sponges

sauté pan

whisk

squeeze bottle

A good whisk has many (at least a dozen) wire loops which are flexible but still stiff enough to be used as a masher on soft foods. It should also be lightweight and fit comfortably in your hand to avoid hand fatigue on longer whisking jobs.

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Sterling W via youtube

Do you know the name of the chilly appliance shown here?

heat lamp

chest freezer

prep table

colander

Chest freezers work very well at keeping a large volume of food items frozen for long periods of time without taking up too much space on the kitchen floor. They are also quite good at maintaining the inside temperature for days in the event of a power outage.

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Arata Photography/Moment/Getty Images

Can you name the containers shown in this image?

deep fryer

cooling rack

measuring cups

roasting pan

Measuring cups are usually separated in terms of what they are used to measure: liquids or dry ingredients. For liquids, both glass and clear plastic work well, but plastic measuring cups might melt or deform if used with hot liquids. Metal is usually the go-to choice for dry ingredients.

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bluestocking/E+/Getty Images

What is the name of the cooking vessel shown here?

blender

food scale

kitchen shears

saucepan

The saucepan is shaped very much like a sauté pan, in that they both have straight sides and a long handle, but the saucepan is taller and narrower than the sauté pan. Some saucepans, known as sauciers, are wider at the top than at the bottom

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DonNichols/E+/Getty Images

What are these pans used for cooking cookies called?

ventilation hood

rubber floor mat

baking sheet

sous vide machine

The term “baking sheet” is often used to refer to both cookie sheets and baking pans. Cookie sheets, however, only have one raised edge, allowing you to slide the cookies off once baking is done. Baking pans, on the other hand, have raised edges all around.

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Gina Pricope/Moment/Getty Images

What is the wine opener shown in this photo called?

corkscrew

charbroiler

fire extinguisher

cutting board

The traditional or waiter’s corkscrew can be a bit of a challenge for many people to master. There are alternatives such as counter-mounted, wall-mounted and electric corkscrews, which are popular options found in professional kitchens. They all make the job much easier, less frustrating and less time-consuming.

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annick vanderschelden photography/Moment/Getty Images

Can you name the cleaning tools shown here?

skillet

grill pan

chef’s knife

scrub sponges

Scrub sponges have a bad reputation when it comes to spreading harmful bacteria around the kitchen. To eliminate the chances of contamination, scrub sponges should be kept clean and replaced often. They should also never be used for wiping away meat juices or for wiping down a countertop.

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Tom and Steve/Moment/Getty Images

Which piece of safety equipment is shown in this photo?

fire extinguisher

cooling rack

saucepan

walk in freezer

Class K fires are the ones of greatest concern in a restaurant kitchen. These are the fires caused by flammable cooking fats and oils. Class K fire extinguishers have both the chemicals and application method which best deal with Class K fires.

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Avalon Bay via youtube

Can you name the time-saving machine shown in this picture?

chest freezer

splatter guard

bread knife

sous vide machine

“Sous vide” translates to “under vacuum.” It is the method of vacuum sealing food in plastic bags, immersing them in water and cooking them at a specific temperature. It is almost impossible to overcook food using the sous vide method.

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bestkitchenreviews via youtube

Do you know the name of the appliance shown here?

mixing bowls

food processor

rubber floor mat

charbroiler

A food processor which is consistently run at higher than recommended capacity can become easily overworked. One way to avoid this is to buy a food processor with different-sized bowls.

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MediaProduction/E+/Getty Images

Which appliance for cooking in plenty of oil is shown here?

whisk

roasting pan

meat thermometer

deep fryer

Deep fryers come in both electric and gas models, as well as countertop and floor models. One important consideration when purchasing any type of deep fryer is its recovery time. This is the time it takes the deep fryer to heat the oil back up to the required cooking temperature after food has been added to it.

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T.Tseng via Wiki Commons

What is the name of the food storage unit shown here?

rolling pin

prep table

squeeze bottle

stockpot

A prep table is an essential piece of restaurant equipment. It has storage area for several different types of prepared ingredients. It is refrigerated, so the foods are preserved at optimal temperature until needed. The prep table also has work or cutting surface which tends to be wider on pizza prep tables than on sandwich prep tables.

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Shutterstock

Do you know the name of the barbecuing cookware shown here?

grill pan

walk in freezer

trivet

steam table

Its handle might not be the first thing you stop to think about when buying a grill pan, but it is a very important part of the pan. A long handle will not get as hot as quickly as a short one. Plus, a small helper handle opposite the long one is always a welcome bonus.

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EATS via youtube

Do you know what the mixing tool shown here is called?

gas range

skillet

immersion blender

colander

Unlike countertop blenders, immersion blenders let you purée, blend and crush ingredients right in the mixing bowl or pot you are preparing them in. Some immersion blenders are cordless and are the safer choice to use in a busy commercial kitchen.

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Cooks & Kitchens from Darlington, UK via Wiki Commons

Can you name the tall, narrow cooking vessel shown here?

sous vide machine

measuring cups

stockpot

ventilation hood

Stockpots are typically made tall and narrow with straight sides. This helps the stockpot to hold a large volume of liquid and allows it to distribute heat evenly throughout the pot.

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Henn Photography/Cultura/Getty Images

Which weighing device is in this photo?

charbroiler

food scale

blender

corkscrew

There are different types of scales which can be put to use in a professional kitchen. One is the receiving scale which works very well for weighing bulk items, especially upon delivery. There are also digital or mechanical portion control scales for measuring the amount of each ingredient to use in a recipe.

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Alex Cao/Photodisc/Getty Images

Do you know what this device used to measure heat is called?

meat thermometer

saucepan

heat lamp

deep fryer

There are certain points to bear in mind to ensure you get an accurate reading on a meat thermometer. These include testing the thickest part of the meat and taking care not to let the thermometer touch bone, fat, gristle or the pan you are cooking in.

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Jeff R Clow/Moment/Getty Images

Which cooking vessel is in this photo?

squeeze bottle

splatter guard

roasting pan

mixing bowls

Height, width and weight are important factors to consider when purchasing a roasting pan. The height and width must allow for sufficient clearance to hold and lift the pan to remove it from the oven. Plus, a pan which is too light will tend to warp easily while one which is too heavy will be hard to maneuver.

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Sally Anscombe/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Can you name this item which is often used with baked foods?

prep table

cooling rack

sauté pan

ventilation hood

Baked foods, such as pastries, which are left on the baking sheet or placed on a flat surface after baking are prone to becoming soggy. They should be placed on a cooling rack so that air can reach all their surfaces and help them to cool evenly.

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FSW via youtube

What is the name of this chilly appliance?

kitchen shears

whisk

meat thermometer

commercial ice machine

Two accessories which are needed along with a commercial ice machine are an ice bin and a water filter. The bin holds ice which is ready to be used so there is always a supply on hand. The water filter helps to ensure that the ice produced by the machine is safe for consumption.

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shutterstock

Which cutting tool is shown in this photo?

steam table

measuring cups

bread knife

corkscrew

The serrated edge of the bread knife along with a sawing action makes it easy to cut through soft, crusty bread without having to press down on the bread with too much force. A good serrated bread knife is one of the three essential knives for any kitchen. The other two are a chef’s knife and a paring knife.

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TigerChefTV via youtube

Can you name the device which is used to keep food warm?

chef’s knife

skillet

cutting board

heat lamp

There are several ways to keep food warm and at a safe temperature until it is served to customers. One of these is a heat lamp which can either be suspended above or mounted onto the countertop where the food is kept.

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Zoonar/P.Malyshev/Zoonar / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Can you name the handy kitchen item in this photo?

gas range

immersion blender

roasting pan

trivet

A trivet can be used to raise a pot or pan over and away from the intense heat of an open flame. Another use is placing a hot container on a trivet so that the heat does not damage the table or countertop.

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ForBB! via youtube

What is the name of this safety device?

baking sheet

blender

grill pan

splatter guard

The splatter guard or splatter screen is a perforated or mesh cover for a frying pan. Its many tiny holes will let air and heat through but will not allow grease to escape.

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REVIEW TUBE via youtube

Do you know the name of the ground covering shown here?

rubber floor mat

cutting board

steam table

chest freezer

Commercial floor mats serve as more than protective coverings for a kitchen floor. They help to prevent slips, falls and resulting injuries. Anti-fatigue mats can also provide comfort and support for workers who have to stand for long periods of time.

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Vianenkitchenventilation via Wiki Commons

Which device for extracting heat is shown in this photo?

food processor

chef’s knife

bread knife

ventilation hood

A ventilation hood has an extractor fan which draws out hot air, steam, odors, airborne grease and gases. Some ventilation hoods use ducts to lead the air out of the building while others filter the air and circulate it back into the kitchen.

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BigTray - Restaurant Equipment & Supplies via youtube

Can you identify the food warmer shown in this photo?

colander

fire extinguisher

steam table

commercial ice machine

A steam table is a gentle and effective way to evenly distribute heat and keep food warm. There is very little risk of the food burning or drying out as might be more likely with an open flame or a heating element. There will still be the need, however, for a member of the kitchen staff to periodically stir or rotate the food in the containers.

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Cyungbluth via Wiki Commons

What is the name of this superhot cooking appliance?

charbroiler

sauté pan

food scale

scrub sponges

Charbroilers routinely operate at temperatures in excess of 550 degrees Fahrenheit. They come in countertop, floor and outdoor models, as well as being either electric or gas-powered.

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annick vanderschelden photography/Moment/Getty Images

Do you know what this handy dispensing tool is called?

kitchen shears

rolling pin

squeeze bottle

food processor

Squeeze bottles are extremely versatile and get put to many uses in the commercial kitchen. They can be used to add just the right amount of liquid ingredients, such as oil, vinegar, sauces and salad dressings to dishes. They come in handy, too, as a creative way to dispense pancake batter to make interesting and intricate designs.

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